Connectornewsletter oct%202013[2]

TheOctober 2013

ConnectorOur focus is on serving you!

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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This has been quite an interesting month. I attend-ed the Association of Educational Service Agen-cies Federal Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C. the last week in September. Although the Nebraska delegation are fine people and concerned about the wants and needs of all Nebraskans, I was once again disheartened by the lack of action and the inability of our aggregate elected and as-sembled leaders to compromise and find solutions for problems. As a matter of fact, the entire federal government shut down the week after I left. I just want to let you all know that was not my fault!

As many in this reading audience already know, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization is five years past due. This is just one of many concerns that have resulted from congressional inaction. I could list a long litany of woes, but will settle for the need to continue/expand funding and stream-line paperwork for E-rate funding which is so important for our schools as the importance and use of technology for instruction continues to expand at a rapid rate in school districts; the need to fully fund IDEA to meet the expanding costs as school districts comply with Rule 51 to meet the needs of special population students; and, the need to address the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Edu-cation Act which has not been reauthorized since 2006.

Please stay informed and make your opinions known to your elected leaders, no matter what those opinions might be.

The good news in this article is that the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council is working diligently with staff from the Nebraska Department of Edu-cation to identify and develop statewide initiatives. I have shared these with you in the past, but the current initiatives are: BlendEd, Teacher/Principal Evalua-tion, and Statewide Longitudinal Data Projects. ESU 10 staff is working to best determine our role in the statewide process as we “partner with our customers to meet changing needs through professional expertise, training, and support.” This is an on-going process with the key phrase being “changing needs”.

This really is a dynamic world in which we live and work. At the last collabora-tion meeting – there’s that word again – Brian Halstead, NDE Assistant Com-missioner opined, “Do you want to wait for the federal government to tell us what to do or are we going to control our own destiny by deciding what we as Nebraskans need to do?” I hope those in attendance took this as a rhetorical question because Mr. Halstead was succinctly accurate.

The work continues.

A Message From Dr. Bell

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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ESU 10 News

Dr. Wayne A. Bell, Administrator of Educational Service Unit 10 located in Kearney, Nebraska, has been selected by the Association of Educational Ser-vice Agencies to receive the 2013 AESA Justus A. Prentice Award. This award is given to an individual for contributions through executive leadership in the advancement of educational service agency programs at the regional, state, and national levels. The award began in 1976 and nominees have included past or present educational service agency executives and staff. Dr. Bell is the first Nebraska administrator to receive this prestigious award.

The Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) is a professional organization serving educational service agencies (ESAs) in 45 states; there are 553 agencies nationwide with hundreds of thousands of staff members. AESA is in the position to reach well over 80% of the public school districts; over 83% of the private schools, over 80% certified teachers, and more than 80% non-certified school employees, and well over 80% public and private school students. Annual budgets for ESAs come to $14.7 billion. AESA’s membership is agency wide

and includes all ESA employees and board members.

The mission of AESA is to support and strengthen regional service agencies by:Serving as a national voice for educational service agencies;• Providing professional growth opportunities, technical assistance, advocacy and research;• Helping member agencies promote, distribute, and leverage their knowledge, products, and services: and• Assisting in the establishment of educational service agencies.

Dr. Bell served on the AESA Executive Council from 2000-2004 and continues to serve on various national commit-tees and is a member of the editorial board of the AESA publication, Perspectives. He will receive his award at the AESA Annual Conference which is held in San Antonio, Texas in December. Lanny Kizer, ESU 10 Board President from Loup City will provide the introduction for the award.

DR. WAYNE A. BELL RECEIVES AESA JUSTUS A. PRENTICE AWARD

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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ESU 10 News

Ord and Burwell Elementary Public Schools have been have been selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2013. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that they were selected based on their overall academic excel-lence or their progress in improving student academic achievement.“Excellence in education matters and we should honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare students for suc-cess in college and careers,” said Secretary Duncan. “National Blue Ribbon schools represent examples of educational excellence, and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education.”They will be honored at a recognition ceremony on November 18-19 in Washington, D.C.Doug Smith is Principal at Ord Elementary School and Gordon Goodman is Principal at Burwell Elementary School. To read more about these awards click on the following links:

Ord Elementary School

Burwell Elementary School

Sue Rains, ESU 10 Erate Specialist, Bob Lungrin, ESU 10 Professional Development Director, and Deanna Stall, former ESU 10 Technology Integration Coordinator received the Nebraska Art Teachers Association (NATA) ESU 10 Award for 2013-14. This honor recognizes individuals who support art education in Nebraska both inside and outside the classroom.

Each year NATA recognizes outstanding contributions to student learning, leadership in curriculum development in local school districts and communities, and participation in professional endeavors on state and national levels.

Congratulations on receiving this honor!

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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Leaving a Positive Digital Footprint is the theme for this year’s Nebraska K-12 Digital Citizenship Symposium, to be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2013. The Sympo-sium will be held simultaneously at three locations: ESU 10 in Kearney, Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk, and ESU #13 in Scottsbluff. The Symposium begins at 8:50 a.m. with dismissal at 3:00 p.m. (check-in from 8:25-8:50 a.m.).

Districts are invited to send a team consisting of an admin-istrator, teacher, parent, technology coordinator, and two students (maximum of six members) to one of the three sites. There will be several breakout sessions for each diverse group with a culminating activity bringing district teams back together to discuss, share and develop their own district vision statement to guide local policy develop-ment regarding digital citizenship.

Keynote speakers will set the stage for the group discus-sions where each diverse group will share perceptions, knowledge and insights as they consider various legal issues, resources, and responsibilities that each audience has in “Leaving a Positive Digital Footprint.”

The keynote speakers include: Jon Bruning, Nebraska Attorney General, Karen Haase, Attorney of Education Law for Harding and Schultz P.C., L.L.O; Bill Price, Nebraska State Patrol, Jeremy Nielsen, Omaha Public Schools, and SuAnn Witt, State E-Rate Coordinator, Nebraska Department of Education.

For more information about the symposium or to register your district’s team, visit http://nebraskadcs.wikispaces.com/Registration. Registration deadline: November 15, 2013. Cost for one team (6 members) is $100, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

Digital Citizenship Symposium

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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New Faces at ESU 10

Mandy McClure Speech Language

Pathologist

I’m a country girl who grew up in the town of Oak Harbor, Ohio. I graduated from Oak Harbor High School, followed by undergrad-uate college at Bowling Green State University and graduate college

at the University of Toledo. During grad school, I participated in an extended school year program for children with Autism. I graduated in May 2011 with a Master of Arts Degree in Speech Language Pathol-ogy. I’ve worked in various settings since gradua-tion; including, hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, public and parochial schools, and home health.

I married my husband Shane in September 2011 and we moved to Nebraska for my husband’s job in December 2011. We are currently expecting our first child in April 2014 and are very excited! We also have 2 dogs named Koda and Scout and 2 horses named Rowdy and Kit. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, horseback riding (team penning and sorting), traveling, and camping. I also like cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes!!

I’m excited to become a part of ESU 10 and look forward to getting to know each one of you.

Brad Czaplewski Deaf Educator Instructional

I have lived in Grand Island my whole life. I started out my teach-ing career as a K-12 Art Teacher in Grand Island. I received my BFA in studio art, and I also earned my BAE in art education through

UNK back in 1997. I returned to UNK in 2000 to earn my MAED.

My wife Sue started out in Deaf Education over 20 years ago. She currently works as coordinator for the Central Western Regional Partnership for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children through ESU 9 in Hastings. Through a shared mutual interest in Deaf Culture and American Sign Language, Sue had always encouraged me to return to school and become a Deaf Educator. I took her advice and completed my MAED in Deaf Education 10 years ago through UNL.

I worked as a Deaf Educator/ HI Consultant in a center-based Deaf Education program from 2003 to 2013 for Grand Island Public Schools. I decided to make the switch and become an itinerant Deaf Educa-tor by joining ESU 10 this fall. I am really excited to be part of the ESU 10 team.

Sue and I have been married for 32 years, we have 4 children (2 girls and 2 boys) and 4 grandchildren (2 girls and 2 boys).

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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New to ESU 10

Chris Suchsland Speech Language

Pathologist

My name is Chris Suchsland and I live in Kearney with my husband and two chil-dren. I received my masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from the Univer-sity of Nebraska at Kearney. My family and I keep busy with rescuing and rehabilitat-ing dogs. I also teach online

classes for the University of Nebraska. I am excited to be a new member of the ESU 10 team.

One of the most exciting challenges of teaching and learn-ing today involves engaging students in learning about the broader world; tomorrow’s jobs and lives will require a citizenry capable of understanding the broader world. Through presentations and collaboration, this workshop will help educators develop their personal background, tap into new resources, and use new technologies to engage students in active learning about global systems, societies, and culture. This workshop is particularly relevant to those teaching social studies, languages, and language arts from grades 4-12. It will include sessions related to discus-sion on aspects of the newly adopted state social studies standards that focus on international education, a session on teacher travel and study grant opportunities, opportuni-ties to bring the world into the classroom virtually, global education teaching strategies, a film study of When We Stop Counting---a program that examines the changing de-mographics and increasing diversity of Nebraska schools, and more. This workshop has been developed by a small committee of high school and university global educators through the support and in collaboration with the Malaika Foundations, as well as funded through the generosity of Humanities Nebraska.

The workshop will be hosted at ESU 10 on Friday, November 8 from 9:00am-3:00pm. Lunch will be provided through the generous support of the Malaika Foundation.

Please register at odie.esu10.org or contact Trina Shaw via email at [email protected] or 308-237-5927.For workshop questions, please contact Kevin Witte via email at [email protected].

Global Learning Workshop coming to ESU 10

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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Fall Workshops

October Workshops

10 Fall Analytical Scoring of Student Writing Samples

14 Continuous Improvement Process Support for YEAR 5 Schools

15 Teaching with an iPad

16 NWEA Stepping Stones to Using Data

17 Moodle for Teachers: Managing a Course

21 Continuous Improvement Process Support for YEAR 1 &

2 Schools 22 NSSRS Workday

22 Simply Music

22 Title I Cooperative Fall Meeting

23 1:1 Schools Meeting

24 Assessment for Autism Verification: Day 2: Group

Study 24 Using Google Apps for Education

28 Continuous Improvement Process Support for YEAR 3 &

4 Schools 29 MANDT Recertification

31 Using iPads in the Math Classroom

31 Using iPads in the Science Classroom

Continuous School ImprovementESU 10 Technical Assistance

Join us at ESU 10 to get the technical assistance, consultation, and work time you need to continue your School Improvement Process!

October 14 Year 5 Schools hosting an external visit during the 2013-14 school year Getting ready for the day the external team arrives October 21 Year 1 & 2 Schools hosting an external visit in 2016-17 or 2017-18 Getting off to a good start in a new cycle

October 28 Year 3 & 4 Schools hosting an external visit in 2014-15 or 2015-16 Keeping your process on track

Using iPad in the Curricular Classroom

Let’s explore how the iPad can be used as a productivity and instructional tool as well as a learning device. Using free apps, you will create several projects that could be used as unit openers, chapter reviews, or periodic checks for understanding. Time will be allowed for exploration of apps in core subject areas and gaming apps that challenge students to increase their understanding of a subject or skill.

• October 29 - Using iPads in the Elementary Classroom• October 31 - Using iPads in the Math Classroom• October 31 - Using iPads in the Science Classroom• November 5 - Using iPads in the History Classroom• November 7 - Using iPads in the Language Arts Classroom

Fall Analytical Scoring of Student Writing Samples

October 10-11An opportunity for districts to gather early data for each student in fourth, eighth, and eleventh grades is offered again this fall at ESU 10. Each student paper is assessed separately for each domain by two trained writing teachers for a minimum of 8-12 individual evaluations per paper.

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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Simply Music Workshop

October 22, 2013 9:00 a.m.—3::00 p.m. ESU 10 Kearney

For K-12 Music Teachers

Simply Music is a hands-on playing-based approach to music. This Australian-developed piano program enables students to play blues, classical, accompaniment, and contemporary pieces from their very first lessons. The workshop activities, when used in the classroom, teach groups of children how to play great-sounding songs on the pi-ano, using both hands together, in one class period. This is a fun, natu-ral and quick way to teach piano pieces to students. At the workshop-teachers will learn four songs, variations, arrangements, duets, and composition and improvisation exercises. Although primarily designed for music teachers, elementary teachers (with an interest in music), as well as teachers who work with high ability and special education stu-dents might also find this workshop beneficial.

Simply Music Piano Workshop

For more information contact: Dallas Lewandowski Professional Development Coord. ESU 10 (308) 237-5927 ext. 243 [email protected] Participant materials will include an

instructional book, DVD, and practice keypad.

Register at:

https://odie.esu10.org

Workshop fee: $75.00

Includes workshop

materials: workbook

& DVD

by Dallas Lewandowski, Prof. Development.Coordinator

76 Plaza Blvd • PO Box 850 • Kearney, NE 68848-0850 • Ph: 308.237.5927 • Fax: 308.237.5920 • www.esu10.org

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Write Tools by Dallas Lewandowski, Prof. Development.Coordinator

November 5, 2013-Personal Narrative Writing

November 6, 2013-Descriptive Writing

November 7, 2013-Persuasive Writing

ESU 10 Write Tols Fal Wokhops

Workshops will be held at ESU 10.

Register on Odie at https://odie.esu10.org

For more information, please contact Dallas Lewandowski [email protected].

Write Tools consultant, Jen Letheby will actively engage participants in writing strat-egies and techniques designed to teach the art of narrative, descriptive, and persuasive writing. These important and unique genres of writing are included on district and state writing assessments.

There will be a focus on the full writing process, as well as the organization and essen-tial elements of specific genre writing.